National Search and Rescue Award 2001
AREC award presentation report from Richard
Gamble ZL1BNQ / ZL1ES / ZL1EX
On Friday the first of February,
I attended the first Annual Presentation of the National SAR Award.
The award went this year to AREC
in recognition of their skilled provision of emergency communications in
support of Search and Rescue.
The National AREC management
group travelled to Wellington to have the presentation made to them by
the Minister of Broadcasting, Marion Hobbs. A certificate and Brass clock/barometer
was presented to Brian Purdie, AREC’s National Director. These will be
fitted to a travel case so as can they transported around the country and
shown to the members.
This recognition has come about
by the work done in the area of alternate means of communications using
the most basic equipment, much of it home made. But most areas now maintain
a pool of specialised radios and ancillaries to cater for any requirement.
Certain items are not commercially available and have been developed, modified
and constructed by the members of AREC. The average cost of gear used by
AREC in a search or SAREX is $14,200. This gear is privately owned or is
owned by AREC.
Work in these areas continues
and also training in message handling is now being handed to AREC to bring
new operators in LSAR and CD up to speed.
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| Brian Purdie receives National Search and Rescue
Award from MP Marion Hobbs. |
The National Search and Rescue Award 2001 |
